Bobbin-identifying device for winding machines



Feb.' 5, 1946.

R. CHISHOLM BOBBIN-IVDENTIFYING DEVICE FOR WINDING MACHINES Filed July2, 1941 2 Sheets-Sheet l .Wwa

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Febrl 5, 1946. R. L. cHlsHoLM BOBBIN-IDENTIFYING DEVICE FOR WINDINGMACHINES Filed July 2, 1941 ZSheeiS-Shee't 2 Patented Feb. 5,1946

UNITED STATES PATENT ori-ica BOBBIN-IDENTIFYING DEVICE FOR WINDINGMACHINES Ralph L. Chisholm,-West Newton, Mass., assignor to UniversalWinding Company, Cranston, R. I., a corporation of MassachusettsApplication July 2, 1941, Serial No. 400,870

14 Claims.

l tify iilling yarn by marking the bobbins with crayon or chalk toindicate diiierent types and -counts of the yarn and also to identifythe machine or department in which the yarn is processed or handled.Usually, the operator of the machine marks the yarn on the bobbin bydrawing a piece of chalk or crayon over the surface of the bobbin,butthis operation has certain disadvantages as it is liable to -causethe chalk dust to iniiltrate into the mechanism ofthe machine tointerfere with its proper functioning,

The practice of marking the bobbins as now generally used is for thepurpose of preventing mixed counts of lling yarn going to the same loomand becoming incorporated in the fabric. In such case the' difference inthe size or count of the lling does not become evident until the clothis woven and therefore it results in spoilage or 'seconds in the productof the mill. When'the bobbins are properly marked the weaver candiscover if mixed yarn is furnished to the weave room and place theresponsibility in the winding room or other department of the mill wherethe yarn is processed or handled. In other instances,

by applying several distinguishing marks to the yarn on the bobbin itsprogress from the source can be followed and when poor or imperfectbobbins reach the Weave room theyI can be traced to the machine in whichthey were wound or to the department in which the yarn was processed. Insome cases diierent types or counts of yarn are wound on differentspindles of the same machine and the bobbins may become mixed throughcarelessness of the operator, as by the dropping of bobbins on the flooror by incomplete emptying of the collecting boxes for one type of yarnbefore bobbins or another type are placed therein. Most mills handlemore than one count of yarn as they are `doed therefrom with one or moredistinguishing colors to prevent mixed counts from being woven in theloom; and further, to trace 'the steps in the processing of the yarn indiiierent departments of the mill to correct defectsv or deficiencies inits manufacture.

Another object of the invention is to provide bobbin-identifying meanswhich may be employed as an attachment on Winding machines in which thebobbins are doffed either manually or automatically upon completion ofthe winding.

Another object oi the invention is to, provide means which may beapplied to winding machines to mark the bobbins produced therein withdifferent colors applied by wicks fed from reservoirs containingfugitive ink or dye liquid..

Anotherobject oi the invention is to provide means for marking thebobbins with diierent co1- at the same time and las the counts must bekept separate it is an object of the present invention to provideautomatically-operated means for cred chalk or crayons after they havebeen dotted from the machine and during their delivery therefrom.

Further objects of the invention are set forth in the followingspecification which describes several forms of construction of automaticbobbin-identifying means as illustrated by the accompanying drawings.`In the drawings:

Fig. l is a side elevational View of the essential elements of a windingmachine showing a chute arranged below the Winding spindle for receivingthe defied bobbins and illustrating one form of automatic bobbin-markingdevice' as applied thereto;

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the same;

Fig. 3 is a transverse sectional view through the bobbin chute andmarking device Itaken on line 3-3 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a similar transverse sectional view illustrating the manner inwhich the bobbin descends through the chute and is marked by a wick orwicks leading from a reservoir containing ink or dye liquid; l.

Fig. 5 is a view similar to Fig. 4 illustrating the use of crayons formarking the yarn on the bobbins: and

Fig. 61s a view of a conventional type of bobbin illustrated as markedwith three different identitying colors.

While the present invention may be applied to use with eithermanually-operated or automatic winding machines, it is herein describedand il,- lustrated in connection with a machine of the type disclosedin-United States Letters Patent No. 2,257,651, dated September 30, 1941,and No. 2,302,715, dated November 24, 1942. chine illustrated in theseprior patents is completely automatic for donning empty cores oryarn-carriers, winding the yarn thereon, and dofflng the bobbins as theyare completed. It is therefore desirable that a machine of Athis typeshall be further adapted for marking the bobbins automatically toidentify them after they have been delivered from themachine. On theother hand, it is to be understood that the present invention is notlimited to use with automatic winding machines, but may be applied toother types of winders for marking the bobbins before they are doiled oras they are doffed manually.

Referring to the drawings, in Fig. 1 the frame 2 or casing of thewinding machine is indicated in section and projecting from bearingstherein is a rotary winding spindle 3 at the end of which is acup-shaped member 4 for receiving the head h of a wooden core or bobbinb such as used in automatic filling-changing looms. The opposite or tipend of the bobbin b is held in a similar recessed member 5 on a spindle6 mounted free vto rotate in a bearing sleeve 'I sup-ported by anupright bracket 8 attached to the end o-f a horizontal arm 9 projectingforwardly from the side of the machine frame 2, see Fig. 2. In the typeof machine herein illustrated the yarn y is wound on the core or woodenbobbin b by means of a thread-guide I which has a relative traversingmotion axially of the bobbin and is progressively advancedlongitudinally thereof to deposit the yarn in courses of cross-woundcoils which overlap at their forward ends. In this way the bobbin growsby longitudinal extension, being formed with a conical base, acylindrical body portion and a tapered or conical tip end.

The thread-guide I0 is carried on a reciprocable traverse-rod I mountedto slide longitu- AAdinally in a bearing in the frame or casing 2 withits outer end supported by an outboard bearing.

I6 carried on the bracket 8, referred to previously asthe support forthe spindle 6. The traverserod l5 is reciprocated longitudinally in itsbearings by a suitable cam or similar means enclosed within the frame orcasing 2 of the machine, but not herein illustrated as such traversingmechanism is well known to those versed in the art. The yarn y deliversfrom its source of supply, supported above the machine but not hereinshown, and feeds to the bobbin through an eyelet I'I in the thread-guideI D. Connected to the thread-guide I0 is a rotatable contact-disk ortraverse-wheel 20 mounted on a sleeve-like nut 2| which is interiorlythreaded to engage the screw-threads 22 on the traverse-rod I5. It willbe understood that the thread-guide I 0 is positioned adjacent therearward or butt end of the yarn-carrier or wooden bobbin b at the startof` the winding and the traverse-wheel 20 is so related thereto thateach time the guide makes a return stroke to the left,` as viewed inFigs. 1 and 2, the periphery of the wheel will contact the yarn wound onthe bobbin to turn the nut 2l through a part of a rotation to feed theguide forward to a slight extent along the traverse-rod. This method ofadvancing thevlayers of winding along A,the bobbin by the intermittentfeed of the thread-guide is illustrated and described in the priorpatents referred to above and well known to those versed in the art.

At the completion of the bobbin the threadguide I0 will be positioned atVthe forward or tip end of `the bobbin when at the furthermost limit ofits forward stroke and at this point the guide, or a part connectedtherewith, engages a stop or abutment to move the latter tocauseactuation of the stopping mechanism of the machine, this mechanismbeing employed generally in mai .chines which require manual doillng anddonnng. In automatic machines such as described i in the prior patentsreferred to above, the completion of the bobbin effects initiation ofthe operation of means for dofiing the wound bobbin,

donning an empty corev or yarn-carrier, severing the yarnfrom the doffedbobbin, attaching theend of the yarn to the empty carrier, returning thethread-guide to initial winding position, and again starting the windingoperation. The automatically-operated mechanism for performing thesefunctions is described in the prior patents hereinbefore mentioned andis not referred to specifically herein as it forms no part of thepresvent invention. Suffice it to state that as the wound bobbin B isdoffed by releasing it from the driven winding spindle 3, it drops bygravity into a chute 25 arranged therebelow.

As illustrated in Figs. 1 to 4, inclusive, the v j with a yarn-trap inthe form of a pivoted plate or shelf 28. The pivoted plate 28 isnormally held in horizontal position, as shown in Figs. 3 and 4, bymeans of a spring 29 coiled around its pivotpin 30 with one end hookedaround the top of the chute and its opposite end bearing against theunder side of the plate. The purpose of the yam-trap or plate 28 is tocatch the bobbin as it drops from the winding spindle and guide thelength of yarn trailing therefrom to carry it into position across theforward face of the spindle-cup 4 to position it to be clamped againstthe end of the empty bobbin or yarn-carrier when the latter is donned.The yarn-trap or plate 28 also carries a knife, not herein shown, forsevering the yarn after it has been connected to the empty bobbin andthe latter starts to rotate to wind on the yarn.

Below the yarn-trap or plate 28 is another pivoted shelf or gate 3|,shown by dotted lines in Fig. 1, onto which the wound bobbin drops andis retained momentarily before being delivered into the receiving box orreceptacle 21. The gate 3l is normally supported in inclined positionand isadapted to be released by suitable instrumentalities, not hereinshown, to allow the the bobbin to drop into the box 21 with its butt orhead end falling first. While these last two devices are shown in thepresent drawings and described briefly herein, they form no part of thepresent invention and are not essential to the operation of thebobbin-marking devices. In fact, they may be absent in machines in whichthe bobbins are released'and dropped by hand through the chute 25 intothe receptacle 21.

The bobbin-identifying device of the present invention may takedifferent forms and as illustrated in Figs. 1 to 4, inclusive, itcomprises a container or reservoir 32 for fugitive ink or liquid dye fand wicks 35 for applying the fluid to the bobbins. The reservoir 32 isfastened to the side of the chute 25 by means of bolts 33 passingthrough a bracket or support 34 welded or soldered to the forward sideof the reservoir. The reservoir 32 may be provided with one or aplurality of wicks 3l immersed in the fluid l and supported in troughsor holders 38 projecting through an opening 31 in the side of the chute25 with their ends adapted to contact the bobbins as they descendtherethrough. Figs. 1 and 2 illustrate the reservoir 32 as divided bypartitions 33 and 39 into three separatecompartments for containingthree diii'erent colors of ink or dye liquid, a greater or lesser'number being used in other instances. The reservoir 32 is formed witha. neck or spout 4l directedtoward the opening 31 in the side of thechute 25 and is provided with a hinged cover 43 mounted on a cross-pin44 v to adapt it to be swung open into the position illustrated by dash!lines in Fig. 3 for filling the separate compartments with the dyeliquid.

Fastenedto a ange 45 at the end of the spout 4I is a wire bail 46, towhich are pivoted a series of the shallow troughs 38 -with their sidesinclined toward each other at their outer ends. The troughs 36 have lips48 projecting inwardlyfrom their sides at their forward ends, ,see Figs.3 and 4, to adapt them to partly encompass and compress the wicks 35slightly at the ends projecting beyond the ends of the troughs. Helicalsprings 49 anchored at one end to the hinge-pin 44 for the cover 43 havetheir opposite ends hooked through openings in the sides of the troughs36, thereby tending to maintain the latter in positionslightly inclinedto the horizontal, as shown in Fig. 3, with the inner ends ci' thetroughs engaging the end of the spout 4I to limit their upward movement.The springs 49 permit the troughs 36 and the wicks 35 to swingdownwardly as shown in Fig. 4 as the bobbins B descend through the chute25 and contact the ends of the wicks to pass thereacross.

In automatic bobbin winders of the type disclosed in the priorpatents'previous'ly referred to the spindle-center or cup 4 is withdrawnaxially to release the bobbin B at the completion of the edge of ears 60on the holders l5 to ywhich the lower end of the springs 51 are attachedto regulate the position of the holders. Pieces of chalk orV crayon 58of different colors are held on the holders 55 by means of clampingfingers indicated at 8i, with the ends of the crayons projecting towardthe opposite side of the chute and at a distance therefrom slightly lessthan the diameter of that part of the bobbin to be marked. The crayonsin this modified form of construction act inthe same manner as the wickspreviously described by being drawn across the periphery of the bobbin Bas it drops through the chute to thereby apply the dierent identifyingindicia thereto. Since the crayons are arranged below the windingmechanism of the machine and enclosed within the chute 25 the dust orparticles dropping therefrom will not insinuate into the operatingmechanism of the machine and therefore the use of the crayons in placeof the dye liquid is not of disadvantage.

winding and as the bobbin falls into the chute'25 it depresses theyarn-trap or plate 28 as indicated by thedash lines in Fig. 3. Thebobbin B will then continue its descent downwardly along one side of thechute 25 and as it encounters the ends of the wicks 35 it will swingtheir holders or troughs 36 downwardly as indicated in Fig. 4, therebycausing the wicks to wipe across the rearward portion of the bobbin tomark it with identifying colors as provided by the variously coloredfluid in the reservoir 32. The bobbin#` thus marked drop down into thereceptacle or box 21 and when the latter is filled iut is removed totransport the bobbins to another location such as the weave room of themill.

Fig. 6 illustrates the wound bobbin as being marked with three differentcolors, red, yellow and green, to indicate the size or count of the yarnand other particulars, for example, in what department the yarn was spunor processed, or in other cases the particular machine in which thebobbin was wound. The colored markings remain von the yarn when it iswoven into 'the cloth, but when the fabric is later processed orfinished, the dye,being fugitive, will disappear on treatment with wateror other liquids.

Fig. 5 of the presentv drawings illustrates a modified form of `devicefor marking the bobbins as they descend through the chute 25. In thisembodiment of the invention a series of crayonholders 55 are pivotallymounted on a bracket 56, bolted to the side of the chute 25. The holders55 are maintained in inclinedposition in relation to the horizontal byhelical springs 51 It will be observed from the foregoing specificationthat the present invention provides means for applying identifyingindicia to the yarn on filling bobbins or other forms of packageswhereby to indicate the character of the yarn and its source ofmanufacture. While the device 'is herein shown as embodied in severaldiiferent forms of construction, it is to be understood that variousother modifications may be made in the structure and arrangement of theparts of the device and the manner of applying it to use withoutdeparting from the spirit or scope of the invention. Therefore, withoutlimiting'myself in this respect, I claim:

1. In a winding or like machine, means for winding bobbins, means fordoiiing the bobbins from the winding means, a chute for receivingbobbins defied from the winding means and transferring them therefrom,and means adjacent the chute for marking the yarn with' identifyingindicia during the transfer of the bobbins through the chute.

2. In a winding or like machine, the combination of means for windingbobbins, means for doiiing the bobbins from the winding means,

means for receiving and transferring the doied transfer from the windingmeans.

3. In a winding or like machine, means for winding bobbins, means fordoiiing the bobbins from the winding means, means for receiving andtransferring doied bobbins from the winding means,` and means in` themachine adjacent the path of transfer of the bobbins and operative bythe movement thereof to mark the yarn on the bobbins with identifyingindicia.

'4. Ina winding or like machine, the combination of means for windingyarn on bobbins, means for doiiing the bobbins from the winding means,

for automatically domng the bobbins from the winding means, and meansoperated automatically by the movement of the bobbins as they v aredoiied from the winding means to mark the yarn thereon with identifyingindicia.

6. In a winding or like. machine, means 4for winding bobbins, meansfor'domng the bobbinsI Aranged in position to wipe across the bobbin asthe latter passes through the chute.

7. In a winding or like machine, the combination of means for windingbobbins, means for dofllng the wound bobbins from the winding means, achute for receiving bobbins doiled fromv the winding means, a pluralityoi reservoirs adjacent the chute for containing diierent colored markinguids, and wicks immersed in the fluids in said reservoirs and arrangedin position to wipe across the yam-on the bobbins as they pass throughthe chute after being doffed from the winding means whereby to mark thebobbins with colors indicating various characteristics of the yarn andidentifying the particular spindle on which the bobbins are wound.

8. In combination withra winding or like machine, means for windingbobbins, means for doing the bobbins from the winding means, a chute forreceiving bobbins doed from the winding means, a reservoir for markinguid adjacent the chute, a wick immersed in the uid in the reservoir andprojecting into the chute, and means for resiliently supporting saidwick to adapt its end to wipe across the yarn on a doied bobbin as thelatter passes through the chute.

9. In a. marking device for applying identifying indicia to woundpackages of yarn, means for winding the yarn packages, means for doilingthe opposite end projecting therefrom in position to yieldingly contactand wipe across the bobbin upon relative movement between the latter andthe wick.

10. A device for marking bobbins with identitying indicia comprising areservoir having a plurality of compartments for containing differentcolored dye liquids, troughs hinged to openings in the compartments,resilient means for maintaining said troughs normally elevated inposition,

and wicks immersed in the liquids in the coml partments and supported inthe troughs with their ends projecting forwardly therefrom whereby tomark the bobbins with colors to indicate various characteristics of theyarn and identify the particular spindle on which the bobbins are wound.

11. In a device for marking bobbins with identifying indicia, thecombination of a chute for receiving the bobbins, a crayon-holderpivotally crayon-holder with the crayon projecting across the interiorof the chute in position to contactthe side of a bobbin passingtherethrough.

12. In a winding or like machine, means for winding a yarn package,means in the machine for marking the yarn package wound by the windingmeans during relative movement of the package and marking means, andmeans in the machine operative automatically upon completion of thewinding of a package to eiect said vrelative movement between thepackage and ymarking means to mark the package.

13. In a winding or like machine, means for winding a yarn package,means in the machine for marking the .yarn package wound by the windingmeans during relative movement of the package and marking means, meansoperative upon completion of the winding of a package 1.o release itfrom the winding means, and means in the machine for effecting saidrelative movement between the released package and marking means.

14. In a winding or like machine, means for winding a yarn package,means in the machine for marking the yarn package wound by the windingmeans upon relative movement between the package and marking means,means operative upon completion ofv a package to release it from thewinding means to adapt it to fall by gravity, and lmeans in the machinefor automatically guiding the wound package upon its release from thewinding means to cause it to move relatively of the marking means tomark the package.

RALPH L. CHISHOLM.

